John Yeomans Cowlishaw pocket fruit knife, 1897

Description

It was accepted in Victorian times that Cowlishaw knives never needed advertising, the knives themselves were said to be their own advertisement.

Indeed only one Cowlishaw advertisement has ever been traced. The Cowlishaw story is quite tragic. Having established himself with an enviable reputation for making exquisite silver fruit knives, John Yeomans Cowlishaw became depressed when his wife died in 1895 and he committed suicide soon afterwards.

His son took over the business and continued trading until after the First World War after which time production numbers were greatly reduced.

This example of the Cowlishaw brand has a slight swell centre shaped body and measures 2 5/8 inches in the closed position. It is built on brass liners with iridescent rounded mother-of-pearl scales, an inlaid silver cartouche and silver bolsters.

The face scale is micro-carved with palm leaves. The solid silver spearpoint blade has four hallmarks showing the Sheffield Assay mark, the Lion Passant, the John Yeomans Cowlishaw (JYC) maker’s mark, the year stamp (e) for 1897.

This fine pocket fruit knife is in excellent condition.